Cpr development approach final

1. CommonPool Resources (CPR)Development
What are Common Pool Resources (CPRs)?
Common Pool Resources are broadly defined as those resources in which a group of
people have co-equal user rights. So, a resource used (but not necessarily owned) by all
members of a community may be termed as a Common Pool Resource. CPRs include
village lands, grazing lands, tanks and waterways, village roads and trees on roads and
forests.
In fact, the majority of common pool resources have a defined set of users and a
management system in place. In most cases, these resources are only open to those
having historical rights through kinship or community membership and they are generally
protective of these resources. Over-exploitation occurs when the management system
breaks down allowing some people to ignore the rights of other individuals.
Why are CPRs important to APRLP?
CPRs contribute considerably to the livelihoods of the rural communities. The rural poor,
including small and marginal farmers and landless labourers, have limited alternatives and
increasingly depend on common property resources, in spite of the fact that these
resources have considerably been degraded (in quantity as well as quality) over the years.
CPRs, therefore, potentially provide an important source of employment for the poor.
APRLP aims to:
 Integrate CPR development into the watershed programme.
 Involve stakeholders in the development and equitable use of CPRs.
 Inform policies / measures for the development of CPRs.
APRLP will focus on the following areas:
Ensuring equity of access to, and benefits from, CPRs (for the poor, including the
landless poor)
Ensuring that women are able to benefit from CPR development
Improving access to water resources (surface, groundwater, etc.), improving
quality of the resource, etc.
Developing livestock on CPR lands
Developing agriculture utilising CPRs (such as tank silt, green mulch etc.)
Promoting fish culture in water bodies
Meeting domestic needs (fuel-wood, drinking water, etc.)
Developing Non Timber Forest Products (NTFP)